Switch



R. R. RISK.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED IULYIQ. |920.

Patented June 6, 1922.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented June e, 1922.

Application led July 19, 1920. 'Serial No. 397,214.

ranged in parallel or in series, or burned separately.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the improved i switch in place;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the switch;

FigureJ 3 is a plan View with the cover and switch arm remo-ved;

Figure 4 is a diametrical section through the casing;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the switch arm;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing Y the wiring.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown connected with the hub of a steering wheel 1 of the usual construction, connected to the usual post or column 2.

Thel impro-ved switch comprises a casing of cylindrical form, consisting 4of a body composed of a bottom or base, a side wall 4 and a cover 5. As shown in .Figure 4, the side wall is rabbetedI at each edge, and both cover and base have annular grooves for receiving the edge .of the body, the rabbets formingv annular tongues for engaging the grooves. This casing is of insulating material, as, for instance, fiber or hard rubber. and to the bottom 3 which is the base ofthe switch there are secured two strips of conducting material, indicated at 6 and 7.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the strips 6 and 7 arey substantially arc shaped, and that each. strip has an outwardly extending radial extension 9 and'10, respectively. The strips are secured to the base by means of screws, as shown, or in any other suitable manner, 'and the strips 6 and 7 are near together at one lend but spaced apart a considerable distance at the other end,- and both are arranged coaXially with the centervof the casing.

Arc shaped strips'13 and 14 are secured to the base 3, the saidstrips being`at the saine distance from the center, and the strips are spaced apart from the bottom by insulating material atthose portions which are adjacent 'to the strips 6 and 7. The strip 14 is spaced lapart from the bottom of the casing throughout its length, and the strip 13, except for that portion of the said strip which is between the remote ends of the strips 6 and 7. lThis portion of the strip 13, indicated at 8, is secured directly to the base 3, and it will be noticed that the said portion 8 has inward extensions 11 and 12 which are secured to the base, and are in the same zone with the strips 6 and 7.

The strip 13 has inwardly extending resilient contact members 15 and 16, spaced apart from each other, and the strip- 14 has Asimilar members 17 and 18u` The contact member 15 overlies the extension 12 of the portion 8 of the strip 13 in spaced relation.. The contact members 16 and 18 overlie the strip 6 in spaced relation, and the contact member 17 overlies the strip 7 in spaced relation. These contact members are curved transversely and arranged with their conveX faces downward, so that the switch arm, to be presently described, may move easily between the said contact members and the strips to which they are adjacent.

The switch arm shown in Figure 5 is 1n the form of a cross head 19 of insulating `material` as, for instance, fiber, hard rubber or the like, and it has secured to the opposite faces thereof stripsv 20 of conducting material, the said strips and the cross head having registering openings at their centers, which are polygonal in cross section.

The operating mechanism for the switch is a shaft 21 having at one end a head or thumb-piece 22, and journaled in the base 3 and the cover 5. That portion of the shaft between the cover and the base is polygonal, as sho-wn at 23, and the-said portion passes through the cross head 19 and the contact plates 20, opening, contact strips shaft.

Referring to the wiring shown in Figure 6, itwill be noticed that lead wires 25, 24 and 26 are connected with the extension 9 of the switch 6, the said strip 13, and. the strip 14, respectively. The lead wire or conductor 24 is lgrounded at the opposite end and has interposed therein a light 27. A light 28 is arranged between the lead passing through the polygonal wires 25 and 26, and a branch 29 leads from the wire 26 to the magneto, battery or other source of electrical energy, indicated at 30, and thence to ground. A lead wire 31 is connected with the strip 7 at one end of the wire, the opposite end being grounded, as shown in Figure 6.

In operation, when it is desired to burn only the lower lamps, the switch arm is turned to simultaneously connect the contact members 18 and 15 and to connect the strip 6 with the portion 8 of the strip 13. The current now flows from the source to the contact member 18 and by way of the upper strip 20 to the contact member 15 and by way of the wire 24 through the lamps 27 to ground.

When it is desired to place the lamps in parallel the switch arm is turned to connect the Contact members 16 and 17 and the strips 6 and 7. The current now Hows from the source through the wires 29 and 26 to the lamps 28, iand by way of the wire 25 to the stri 6. From this strip it passes to the strip gthrough the lower strip 20 on the switchv arm and by way of the wire 31 to ground. The current through the lamps 27 passes from source through the wires 29-26 to the strip 14 and by way of the upper strip`20 to the'strip 13, from whence it passes by way of the wire 24 through the lamps 27 to ground.

When. it is desired to have the upper lamps burning and the lower ones extinguished, the switch arm is turned to connect the strips 6 and 7v with the lower strip 2O of the switch arm, that is, the switch arm remera is turned so that one end lies between the contact members 17 and 18 and the other end between the Contact members 15 and 16. 'lhe current now passes from the source through the wires 29 and 26, the lamp 28 and the wire 25 to the strip 6 and by way of the lower Strip 20 0n the switch arm to the strip 7, passing to ground by way of the lead wire 31.

lV hen it is desired to burn the lamps in series 'the switch arm is turned until the lower strip 2() connects the strip 6 with the 4extension 11 of the portion 8 of the strip 13.

yl`he current now passes from source through the lamps 28 to the strip 6, and by way of the lower strip 20 on the switch arm to the strip 13. From the strip 13 the current passes by way of the wire 24C through the lamps 27 to ground.

l claim A device of the character specified comprising a plurality of series of arc shaped switch plates, the members of one series being spaced outwardly from the members of the other series and having inwardly eX- tending contact members overlying' the members of the first named series, and a switch arm mounted to rotate at the center of the series, said arm being of insulating material and having strips of conducting material upon its upper and lower faces adapted to engage between the members of the rst named series and the contact members of the other series to simultaneously provide. a plurality `or electrical connections between the strips.

ROY ROSS RISK. 

